THE Government is continuing to push its “build back better” vision, and has sent money Herefordshire’s way to develop codes for new housing developments.

Herefordshire Council is one of 14 across England to be given £50,000 to develop new design codes, which will set out design principles for new developments.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said the design codes will be expected to enhance the character of areas, like using honey-coloured stone in the Cotswolds or red brick in the Midlands.

They said selected areas will test how to give communities a real say in the layout, design and appearance of buildings in their area – helping with the Conservatives’ vision to “build back better” by encouraging economic growth.

The intention is to provide councils with the guidance and parameters to shape new developments in a way which reflects what their communities truly want.

The measures mean the word “beauty” will be prioritised in planning rules for the first time since the system was created in 1947 – going back to a time when there was a greater emphasis on whether a building was considered attractive to locals.

Housing Minister Christopher Pincher said: “We should aspire to enhance the beauty of our local areas and pass our cultural heritage onto our successors, enriched not diminished.

“In order to do that, we need to bring about a profound and lasting change in the buildings that we build, which is one of the reasons we are placing a greater emphasis on locally popular design, quality and access to nature, through our national planning policies and introducing the National Model Design Code.

“These will enable local people to set the rules for what developments in their area should look like, ensuring that they reflect and enhance their surroundings and preserve our local character and identity.”